McNeese State University’s Banners Cultural Series is bringing Christopher O’Riley — artist, pianist and national media personality — to Southwest Louisiana.

O’Riley will perform with the McNeese Wind Symphony as well as give a solo performance from his album “Out of My Hands” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16, in F. G. Bulber Auditorium. Tickets will be $20 for adults, $5 for children and free to McNeese and Sowela students with a valid ID.

His performance will cover artists such as The Smiths, Tori Amos, Pink Floyd, Nirvana and many more.

Through remarkable interpretations of a traditional and current repertoire, O’Riley has gained the ability to link together musical tastes, genres and audiences worldwide. O’Riley has been awarded with phenomenal reviews and several recording contracts with such labels as Sony Classical.

Not only does O’Riley portray an extreme musical talent, but he also has a warm personality, which has brought him the opportunity to host the National Public Radio’s “From the Top” for the last 13 years. O’Riley, who has won many awards at the Leeds, Van Cliburn, Busoni, and Montreal competitions, divides his time between Los Angeles and rural Ohio.

Season memberships are still available. People can join by calling the Banners office at 337-475-5123 or visiting the Banners website at www.banners.org.

O’Riley has appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Minnesota Orchestra and the symphonies of Pittsburgh, Detroit, Atlanta and Baltimore and has performed recitals at the University of Colorado Boulder and Duke University and orchestral engagements with the New Mexico Symphony and Atlantic Classical Orchestra.

Christopher O’Riley will perform with the McNeese Wind Symphony March 16 in the Bulber Auditorium at McNeese. (Special to the American Press)